Sewing machine



Nov. 2 1, 19.33.

H. M. STEPHENSON SEWING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May '27, 1927 I rn/entfor I 2 y M M H h N v- 21, 1933- H. M. STEPHENSON SEWING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 27, 1927 Inventor: In M. Stephen 5 on,

H is AUZOPn e y.

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Patented Nev. 21,- 1933 "UNITED STATES SEWING mcnmn Hugh M. Stephenson, Fort Wayne, Ind., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application may 27, 1927 Serial No. 194,814

21 Claims. (01. 112-220) My invention relates to sewing machines. One of the objects of my invention is to drive a sewing machine by means of an electric motor which is completely hidden from view. In order 5 to carry out this object of my invention, the mo- If, with a motor mounted in accordance with my invention, the gearing connection between the motor and the sewing machine mechanism is a permanent one, it would not be possible to wind a bobbin without running the entire sewing machine mechanism at the same time. This would often be very objectionable. My invention has for anotherof its objects, an arrange ment, of parts whereby when it is desired to wind the bobbin, the motor is disconnected from the sewing machine mechanism.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts more fully described hereinafter and particularly defined in 1 the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation, with parts broken away, of a sewing machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the underneath portion of a cloth plate of the machine of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the machine of Fig. 1, with the parts in section on the lines 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the mounting of the electric motor; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the bobbin winder; Fig. 6 is asectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the gearing and clutch construction shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the sewing machine illustrated includes a cloth or bed plate 1, from which extends the usual overhanging arm 2 terminating in the head 3, in which reciprocates the usual needle-bar. The bobbin case 5 is retained within the rotary loop taker 6 located beneath the bed platel.

-a vertical shaft 19 through another gear 20 These parts cooperate with the needle-bar and feeding mechanism to form the usual lock stitches in the ordinary op eration of the sewing machine.

An electric motor 7, which is preferably a completely assembled motor unit, is fastened to the 30 underneath side of the cloth plate 1, the shaft 8 of which is geared to an actuating shaft 9. The. actuating shaft-9 directly drives the rotary loop taker, and through gearing, the feeding mechanism and the mechanism for reciprocating the o5- needle-bar. It will be noted that the shaft 8, of I the motor and the actuating shaft 9 are arranged parallel to each ,other and the gearing between these shafts is "of the frictional type, a friction pinion 10 being mounted on the motor shaft and the frictional gear 11v on the actuating shaft. This gearing, however, may be of any other well known form.

The details of the motor mounting are more clearly shown in Fig. 4. The motor 7 1s pivotally mounted onthe rear shoulder screw 12 and is supported at the front by-a screw 13 which is slidable in a transverse slot 13a. The front end of the motor is engaged by a hinged spring fork 14 which fits the outside of the pulley end bearing bracket 15. This fork is' pivotally mounted on the underside of the bed plate 1 and is spring pressed by means of the spring 16. By pivotally mounting the motor on the rear screw 12 and providing spring pressed means for N the. other end of the motor which is movably supported in the slot 13a,-pressure is applied between the pinion 10 and the gear 11, which insures that no slippage takes place between these friction gears. The pinion 10 is preferably made of rubber and the pulley 11 is a metal gear. The gear 11 is rotatably mounted on'a sleeve 17 (see Fig. 2)' on the actuating shaft 9. A helical gear 18 is keyed to the shaft 9, but is slidable on said key. The end of the gear 11 has clutch teeth 11' engaging similar clutch teeth 18' on the adjacent end of the helical gear 18, as shown in Fig. 7. The helical gear drives mounted on the lower end of the shaft l9. The shaft 19 has at its upper ends. gear 21 which meshes with the gear 22 on a horizontal shaft 23. Mountedon one end of the shaft 23 is the usual fly-wheel 24 and on the other end the usual needle-bar cams or links (not shown) for driving the needle-bar 4. The vertical shaft 19 also carries a cam 25 for operating the feed mechanism. The feeding mechanism (see Fig. 2) comprises a bar 26 having a slot at-one end engaged by the cam 25 and a slot at the other 110 end for engag ng a pivot block which is mounted on an adjustable plate 2'7. The movement of the cam 25 in the slot in the end of the bar 26 causes the latter to oscillate about its pivot and also reciprocate longitudinally. The end of the bar 26 which engages the feed-dog bar 29 is supported on an inclined plate 28, as shown in Fig. 6. The oscillation and reciprocation of the bar 26 with its motion on the plate 28 gives the feed-dog bar 29 the usual form of motion so that the cloth is properly fed under the pressure foot 30 and needle-bar 4. The length of the stitch may be adjusted by moving the plate 27. This is accomplished by a rack 31 and pinion 32.

When the parts are in the position shown, the motor drives the actuating shaft 9 and rotary hook at double speed, and the vertical shaft 19 at single speed the shaft 23 also operating at single speed.

If the motor '7 is not energized and the flywheel 24 is moved by hand in the same direction as it moves when the machine is sewing,

the shaft 19 is rotated, whereupon the gear 20 moves the helical gear 18 away from the gear 11, unclutching the projections 11' and 18' on the gears 11 and 18. This unclutching action is helped along by the light spring 38 contained within the sleeve 17 and bearingagainst a shoulder 18 in the gear 18. A bobbin winder is mounted directly above the cloth plate, with its operating mechanism contained within the upright portion of the hollow arm 2. The spindle 34 of the bobbin winder projects beyond the arm 2 and may have mounted thereon a bobbin 35. On the other end of the spindle is a gear 36 which is shown as having a rubber face.' This spindle is pivotally mounted on a spring pressed shaft 3'? from which depends a dog 38. A spring 39 surrounds the spindle 34 for engaging the bobbin and holding it against a follower (not shown) during its When the helical gear 18 is moved so as to be disengaged from the gear 11, the cone end 40 thereof engages the end of the dog 38 so as to rotate the shaft 37 and bring the friction wheel 36 into engagement with the gear 11. If now the motor 'I is energized, the bobbin winding spindle 39, together withthe bobbin thereon is rotated and the bobbin may be wound. During the of the bobbin, the helical gear 18 is diseng i d from the pulley 11 so that neither the actuating shaft 9 nor the vertical shaft 19 is driven. Qonsequently, the sewing machine mechanism will not be actuated during the bobbin winding operation. It will also be noted that movement of the actuating mechanism of the sewing machine connects the bobbin winder to the driving means and this connection is dependent upon the disconnection of the actuating mechanism for the shafts 9 and 19 from the'driving means. After the bobbin is wound, the motor 7 is stopped and the fly wheel 24 rotated in a direction opposite to that which it usually runs, whereupon the gear 18 is again clutched to the gear 11. The conical part of the gear 40 .is moved out of engagement with the dog 38, whereupon the spring 41 rotates the shaft 3'7 so as to move the gear 36 on the bobbin winding spindle out of engagement with the gear 11. If for any reason it is desiredto drive the sewing machine mechanism by means of a foot-treadle instead of the motor 7, a belt may be fitted in the groove 42 in the pulley 11.

I desire it to be understood that my invention is not limited to the particular arrangement shown and described, and I aim in the appended claims to cover all modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of my invention What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United-States, is:

1. In a sewing machine, a cloth plate, an actuating shaft beneath said plate, an electric motor fastened to the underside of said cloth plate, said motor having a shaft, gearing connecting said shaft of said motor to said actuating shaft, said gearing including means for disconnecting said shaft of said motor from said actuating shaft, a bobbin winder, and means for connecting said bobbin winder to said motor in response to operation of said shaft disconnecting means.

2. In a sewing machine, a cloth plate, an actuating shaft beneath said plate, an electric motor fastened to the underside of said cloth plate, said motor having a shaft parallel to said actuating shaft, gearing connecting said shaft of said motor to said actuating shaft, said gearing including means for disconnecting said shaft of said motor from said actuating shaft, a bobbin winder, and means for connecting said bobbin winder to said motor in response to operation of said shaft disconnecting means. a

3. In a sewing machine, a cloth plate, an actuating shaft beneath said plate having a frictional gear thereon, an electric motor having a shaft, a frictional pinion on said motor shaft in engagement with said gear, means for pivotally mounting said motor to the underside of said cloth plate, spring means eng--ging said motor to apply pressure between said pinion and saidgear,

means for connecting said shaft of said motor to said actuating shaft and for disconnecting the same therefrom, a bobbin winder, and means for connecting said bobbin winder to said motor in response to operation of said shaft disconnect ing means.

4. In a sewing machine, a cloth plate, an actuating shaft beneath said plate having a frictional gear thereon, an electric motor having a shaft, said motor shaft being parallel to said actuating shaft, a frictional pinion on said motor shaft in engagement with said gear, means for pivotally mounting said motor to the underside of said cloth plate, spring means engaging said motor to apply pressure between said pinion and said gear, means for connecting said shaft of said motor to said actuating shaft, and for disconnecting the same therefrom, a bobbin winder, and

means for connecting said bobbin winder to said motor when said shaft of said motor is disconnected from said actuating shaft.

5. In a sewing machine, a cloth plate, an actuating shaft beneath said plate, an electric motor fastened to the underside of said cloth plate, said motor having a shaft, gearing connecting said shaft of said motor to said actuating shaft, a needle bar, mechanism for reciprocating said needle bar comprising a vertical shaft, and gearing connecting said vertical shaft to said actuating shaft, said first mentioned gearing including means responsive to actuation of said vertical shaft for disconnecting said shaft of said motor from said actuating shaft.

6. In a sewing machine, a cloth plate, an actuating shaft beneath said plate, an electric motor fastened to theunderside of said cloth plate, said motor having a shaft parallel to said actuating shaft, gearing connecting said shaft of said motor to said actuating shaft, a needle bar, mechanism for reciprocating said needle bar comprising a vertical shaft, and gearing connecting said vertical shaft to said actuating shaft, said first mentioned gearing including means responsive to actuation of said vertical shaft for disconnecting said shaft of said motor from said actuating shaft.

7. In a sewing machine, a cloth plate, an actuating shaft beneath said plate, an electric motor fastened to the underside of said cloth plate, said motor having a shaft, gearing connecting said shaft of said motor to said actuating shaft,-a

v needlebar, mechanism for reciprocating said from said actuating shaft, a bobbin winder, and

means for connecting said bobbin winder to said motor in response to operation of said shaft disconnecting means.

3. In a sewing machine, a cloth plate, an actuating shaft beneath said plate, an electric motor fastened to the underside of said cloth plate, said motor having a shaft parallel to said actuating shaft, gearing connecting said shaft of said motor to said actuating shaft, a needle bar, mechanism for reciprocating said needle bar comprising. a vertical shaft, gearing connecting said vertical shaft to said actuating shaft, said first mentioned gearing including means for disconnecting said shaft of said motor from said actuating shaft, a bobbin winder, andmeans for connecting said bobbin winder to said motor in response to operation of said shaft disconnecting means.

9. In a sewing machine, a cloth plate, an actuating shaft beneath said plate having a frictional gear thereon, an electric motor having a shaft, a frictional pinion on said motor shaft in engagement with said gear, means for'pivotally mounting said motor to the underside of said cloth plate, spring means eng in said motor I to apply pressure between said pinion and said gear, a needle bar, mechanism for reciprocating said needle bar comprising a vertical shaft, gearing'connecting said vertical shaft to said actuating shaft, meansfor connecting said shaft of said motor to said actuating shaft and for disconnecting the same therefrom, a bobbin winder, and means for connecting said bobbin winder to said motor in response to operation of said shaft disconnecting means. t

it. In a sewing machine, a cloth plate, an actuating shaft beneath said plate having a frictional gear thereon, an electric motor having a shaft, said motor shaft being parallel to said actuating shaft, a frictional pinion on said motor shaft in engagement with said gear, means for pivotally mounting said motor to the underside of said cloth plate, spring means engaging said motor to apply pressure between said pinion and .said gear, a needle bar, mechanism for reciprocating said needle loar comprising a vertical shaft, gearing connecting said vertical shaft to said actuating shaft, means for connecting said shaft of said motor to said actuating shaft and for disconnecting the same therefrom, a bobbin winder, and means for connecting said bobbin winder to said motor in response to operation of said shaft disconnecting means.

ll. In a sewing machine, a cloth plate, an actuating shaft beneath said plate, an electric motor fastened to the underside of said cloth plate, said motor having a shaft, gearing connecting said shaft of said motor to said actuating shaft, a needle bar, mechanism for reciprocating said needle bar comprising a vertical shaft, gearing connecting said vertical shaft to said actuating shaft comprising a helical gear on said actuating shaft, a clutch between said helical gear and said first mentioned gearing, and means responsive to actuation of said vertical shaft for disengaging and engaging said clutch.

12. In a sewing machine, a cloth plate, an actuating shaft beneath said plate, an electric motor fastened to the underside of said cloth plate, said motor having a shaft parallel to said actuating shaft, gearing connecting said shaft of said motor to said actuating shaft, a needle bar, mechanism for reciprocating said needle bar comprising a vertical shaft, gearing connecting said vertical shaft to said actuating shaft comprising a helical gear on said actuating shaft, a clutch between said helical gear and said first mentioned gearing, and means responsive to actuation of said vertical shaft for disengaging and engaging said clutch.

1 3. In a sewing machine, a cloth plate, an actuating shaft beneath said plate having a frictional; gear thereon, an electric motor having a shaft, a frictional pinion on said motor shaft in engagement with said gear, means for pivotally mounting said motor to the underside of said cloth plate, spring means engaging said motor to apply pressure between said pinion and said gear, a needle bar, mechanism for reciprocating said needle bar comprising a vertical shaft, gearing connecting said vertical shaft to said actuating shaft comprising a helical gear on said actuating shaft, a clutch between said helical gear and said first mentioned gearing, and means responsive to actuation of said vertical shaft for disengaging and engaging said clutch.

14. In a sewing machine, a cloth plate, an actuating shaft beneath said plate having a frictional gear thereon, an electric motor having a shaft,- said motor shaft being parallel to saidsponsive to actuation of said vertical shaft for.

disengaging and engaging said clutch.

15. In a sewing machine, a cloth plate, an

actuating shaft beneath said plate, an electric motor fastened to the underside of said cloth plate, said motor having a shaft, gearing connecting said shaft of said motor to said actuating shaft, a needle bar, mechanism for reciprocating said needle bar comprising a vertical shaft, gearing connecting said vertical shaft to said actuating shaft comprising a helical gear on said actuating shaft, a clutch between said helical gear and said first mentioned gearing, a bobbin winder, and means for connecting said bobbin winder to said motor in response to operation of said clutch to disengage the same.

16. In a sewing machine, a cloth plate, an actuating shaft beneath said plate, an electric motor fastened to the underside of said cloth plate, said motor having a shaft parallel to saidactuating shaft, gearing connecting said shaft of said motor to said actuating shaft, a needle bar, mglianism for reciprocating said needle bar comprising a vertical shaft, gearing connecting said vertical shaft to said actuating shaft comprising a helical gear on said actuating shaft, a clutch between said helical gear and said first mentioned gearing, a bobbin winder, and means for connecting said bobbin winder to said motor in response to operation of said clutch to disengage the same.

17. In a sewing machine, a cloth plate, an actuating shaft beneath said plate having a frictional gear thereon, an electric motor having a shaft, a frictional pinion on said motor shaft in engagement with said gear, means for pivotally mounting said motor to the underside of said cloth plate, spring means engaging said motor to apply pressure between said pinion and said gear, a needle bar, mechanism for reciprocating said needle bar comprising a vertical shaft, gearing connecting said vertical shaft to said actuating shaft comprising a helical gear on said actuating shaft, a clutch between said helical gear and said first mentioned gearing, a bobbin winder, and means for connecting said bobbin winder to said motor in response to operation of said clutch to disengage the same.

18. In a sewing machine, a cloth plate, an actuating shaft beneath said plate having a frictional gear thereon, an electric motor having a shaft, said motor shaft being parallel to said actuating shaft, a frictional pinion on said motor shaft in engagement with said gear, means for pivotally mounting said motor to the underside of said cloth plate, spring means engaging said motor to apply pressure between said pinion and said gear, a needle bar, mechanism for reciprocating said needle bar comprising a vertical shaft, gearing connecting said vertical shaft to said actuating shaft comprising-a helical gear on said actuating driving said actuating mechanism, means for con-.

necting and disconnecting said driving means to said actuating mechanism, a bobbin winder, and means responsive to operation of said means for disconnecting said driving means from said actuating mechanism for connecting said bobbin winder to said driving means.

20. In a sewing machine, an actuating shaft, means for driving said actuating shaft, a needle bar, mechanism for reciprocating said needle bar comprising a vertical shaft,-gearing connecting said yertical shaft to said actuating shaft, means for connecting said actuating shaft to said driving means, and for disconnecting the same therefrom, and a bobbin winder, said bobbin winder being connected to said driving means and said driving means disconnected from said actuating shaft upon rotation of said vertical shaft.

21. In a sewing machine, an actuating shaft, means for driving saidactuating shaft, a needle bar, mechanism for reciprocating said needle bar comprising a vertical shaft, gearing connecting said vertical shaft to said actuating shaft comto said driving means and said clutch being dis-d engaged upon rotation of said vertical shaft.

HUGH M. STEPHENSON,

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